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Questions from the Gilded Age Readings
Essay question
Question 1: The American Dream
In "The New Colossus," Emma Lazarus critically reflects a sense of hope and opportunity
in the United States during the Gilded Age. This can be seen from her famous lines, "Give me
your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,"
(Lazarus lines 10-11).
The above quote critically encapsulates the idea that America was a land of refuge and a place
where immigrants sought a fresh start. This poem which is inscribed on the base of the “Statue of
Liberty,” portrays the United States as a beacon of freedom and a symbol of opportunity for
those escaping oppression and seeking a better life.
On the other hand, Kate Chopin's short story "The Storm"
provides a contrasting view of
opportunities during the Gilded Age. While her story takes place in a more domestic setting, it
critically explores the theme of forbidden desire and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. This can
be seen through Calixta's affair with Alcée. This affair entirely represents a moment of passion
and opportunity outside the confines of societal norms. The narrator says “So the storm passed
and everyone was happy”
(Chopin 99). As a result, Chopin’s portrayal suggests that
opportunities for personal fulfillment, especially for women, might require defying conventional
expectations and societal restrictions.
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In contrast to both Lazarus and Chopin, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow
Wallpaper"
offers a critical perspective on opportunities for women in the Gilded Age. The
protagonist's descent into madness is emblematic of the stifling and oppressive nature of the
domestic role prescribed for women during this era. She says “John is a physician, and perhaps -
(I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind
-) perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster” (Gilman 78). This highlights the
limitations placed on women's intellectual and creative pursuits, suggesting that the American
Dream, as it existed in the Gilded Age, may not have been equally accessible to all, particularly
women.
Identification
b) “A caged bird”:
This phrase comes from “Caged Bird”
a poem Maya Angelou. The phrase
critically symbolizes the constraints and limitations imposed on individuals with a special focus
to African Americans, by societal oppression and racism. As a result, the caged bird represents
the longing for freedom, equality, and the desire to break free from the confines of
discrimination.
c) Fairly gnawed” bed nailed down to the floor:
This phrase comes from “The Yellow
Wallpaper
” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The quote critically symbolizes the oppressive and
confining nature of the protagonist's domestic life and underscores her sense of entrapment and
powerlessness in her marriage. Therefore, it is a poignant representation of the physical and
emotional constraints imposed upon her and also reflects the larger theme of the subjugation of
women in society during the Gilded Age.
Quotation interpretation
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“A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame/Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name/Mother
of Exiles.”
This quote is from “The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus. It symbolizes the Statue
of Liberty, representing the United States as a beacon of freedom and refuge for immigrants.
Moreover, the quote underscores America's historical role as a land of opportunity and sanctuary
for those seeking a better life.
“I’ve got out at last,’ said I, ‘in spite of you and Jane! And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so
you can’t put me back!”
This quote is from “The Yellow Wallpaper"
by Charlotte Perkins
Gilman.
the narrator expresses a sense of triumph and defiance against her oppressive husband and
societal expectations. It symbolizes her final break from her stifling domestic role, highlighting
the theme of liberation and resistance in the story.
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Works Cited
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins.
The yellow wall-paper and other stories
. Oxford University Press,
USA, 1998.